Charging the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda of distorting the hymns of Bhai Gurdass, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Avtar Singh Makkar demanded stern action against the Dera by the Haryana government, as this was a clear case of blasphemy and of hurting the religious
sentiments of Sikhs.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, Makkar pointed out that such 'anti-Sikh activities' of the Dera had in the past only fanned communal hatred leading to violence. The peace and communal harmony of the region could well be jeopardised if the Dera did not halt such activities, the statement added.

"The Congress government of Haryana will be responsible if the peaceful atmosphere in the region is shattered," stated the SGPC chief in the strongly worded statement.

The statement regretted that despite repeated advise and pleas from the SGPC and other Sikh bodies, the Haryana government has never made a sincere effort to check the 'anti-Sikh activities' of the Dera.

This led to violence just a couple of days back and now it has once again committed a serious offence by distorting the hymns of Bhai Gurdass, who under the instructions of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth guru, had compiled the Guru Granth Sahib, added Makkar while demanding that a case under section-295-A of the IPC be registered against the Dera for hurting religious sentiments.